ROYAL AIR FORCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 255, 28 October 1939, Page 4

ROYAL AIR FORCE

War-time Service I YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS “Waiting for this war to start was monotonous, doing 24-h Our duty and few patrols, but now we are settling , into a routine and regular patrols and at certain times can get off the station i as relaxation." writes Pilot-Officer A. i H. Ryan, of the ’Royal Air Force. • formerly of New Plymouth, to a I friend. “Hubert (Pilot-Officer Hubert Keller, formerly of New Plymouth) is ■ squadron navigation officer and is at • present working in our control room. He’s an efficient navigation officer. : “I was to have done the navigation ■ course, but was recalled and now take ■ an aeroplane up when required, usu- • ally one hour before dawn, for three 1 to four hours, and in the evening, landing after da; k. I carry a navi- . gator, a W.T. (radio) operator and a ' rear gunner, and set sail on an east- ■ erly course to reconnoitre, shadow and report on enemy ships, sink any that 1 are small enough and sink submarines. “Sometimes we get clear weather. ■ but up to now it’s been taking off > without lights in the rain and fog. ‘ with cloud-hidden barrage balloons on one side and cloud-covered hills on the ■ other and flying all the time on the ; instrument pane], often not being able to see past the front of the machine. So far I've met no hostile aircraft, ' but my front gun is itching to go. “I'm sorry this war was begun. It's a terrible thing to sink a whole submarine just because Hiller wants his way and sends them out. and I've a fear of hitting one of our own subs. • Balloon barrages and clouds, our own (searchlights and anti-aircraft guns all add to our fun and it’s a little exciting at times. I've struck an interest- [ ing job even if I don’t get much sleep al night." , I Flying-Oflieer W. Turner, writing to his parents in New Plymouth from Aldergrove station. 14 miles from Belfast in Northern Ireland, says: “German submarines arc all around the coast here, hut our aircraft keep their movements always known. When vc ' go into Belfast at ’Hght we have to carry loaded revolvers as a safety ■ measure. The I.R.A. terrorists got ■ hold of a soldier there the other pven- ■ ing. lore his uniform off him and then . shot him dead. So wo have to keep • in bunches of four or five and cany ' guns. i “As regards the war." he concluded, “people have a firm belief that inter- ' nal trouble in Germany, . etc., will play a big part in its settlement. The morale of the British ' people is splendid and could not be bettor. I think the fact that we are fight for something really worth while, the crushing of Nazism, is the main reason’